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Microsoft Changes Name of Palladium, Discusses Details
by Arie Slob
Hello Windows users,
 When Microsoft first announced plans in June 2002 to create a more secure environment for Windows, and code-named it "Palladium", there were a lot of negative comments.
So what to do? First you just rename the project. It is now known as Next-Generation Secure Computing Base (NGSCB). At last week's WinHEC (Windows Hardware Engineering Conference), developers where shown a first peek at the technology.
NGSCB is a combined software/hardware solution to the problem of security and intellectual property rights. The hardware would be a new security chip added to the PC. Reportedly AMD and Intel have already signed up for the project. With NGSCB, applications will run in a protected memory space that is highly resistant to software tampering and interference.
NGSCB delivers four fundamental components that make up the security:
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Attestation lets other computers know that your computer is really the computer it claims to be, and is running the software it claims to be running.
- Sealed Storage allows the user to encrypt information so that it can only be accessed by a trusted application.
- Strong process isolation essentially acts like a bank vault, making the CPU more secure from attack.
- Secure input and output. Keystrokes are encrypted before they can be read by software and decrypted once they reach secure side of the CPU. That means that nobody can use malicious software to record and steal or modify your keyboards strokes.
Speaking at WinHEC, Bill Gates argued that this new security technology would not give controls over their PCs to media companies; consumers can opt to "turn off" the system when it becomes available. The big question mark here is of course how much access you would have to digital information once you decide not to use/enable NGSCB.
Like I mentioned previously, Palladium's (excuse me, NGSCB's) big hurdle as I see it (and I'm sure many agree with me) is trust. Do we trust Microsoft to do the right thing? Or is this just another attempt to strengthen its grip on the market? According to Microsoft NGSCB will be easily portable to other operating systems, and it's up to other companies to ensure interoperability.
According to sources, the first beta software build on NGSCB should be available sometime next year. NGSCB is scheduled to be included in a future major Microsoft operating system release ("Longhorn", Microsoft's next Windows version is scheduled for a possible 2005 release).
Windows XP Updates
Windows XP Patch: Problems May Occur When Your Computer with Multiple ATA Drives Enters the S1 Power State
TThis update addresses the "Problems When Your Computer with Multiple ATA Drives Enters the S1 Power State" issue in Windows XP. Download now for your computer to be able to enter the S1 power state when it has multiple ATA drives. For more information about this issue, read Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 812415.
Download Patch:
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Web Site Updates
These pages were added/updated in the past week. Information on previously updated/added pages is available on the What's New? page for 1 month.
Windows-Help.NET
Added: Microsoft Posts Platform Support Reporting Utility Tools for Download
Added: Microsoft Changes Name of Palladium, Discusses Details
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Windows XP
Added: How to Check if DVD Decoder Software is Installed
Added: Windows XP Patch: Problems May Occur When Your Computer with Multiple ATA Drives Enters the S1 Power State
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Highlights
Microsoft Offers Sneak Peek of MSN Messenger 6
This week Microsoft announced it will release a major upgrade to the MSN Messenger service this summer.
Read Full Article
Microsoft Posts Platform Support Reporting Utility Tools for Download
This week, Microsoft posted a set of utilities called "Platform Support Reporting Utility". The utility facilitates the gathering of critical system and logging information used in troubleshooting support issues.
Read Full Article
Windows XP Tip: How to Check if DVD Decoder Software is Installed
By default, Windows XP does not come with compatible DVD decoder software installed.
Read Full Article
Windows 2000 Patch: Problems May Occur When Your Computer with Multiple ATA Drives Enters the S1 Power State
This update addresses the "Problems When Your Computer with Multiple ATA Drives Enters the S1 Power State" issue in Windows 2000, and is discussed in Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 812415
Free Software: iCarbon
iCarbon allows you to combine your printer and scanner into a photo copier using a small and fast program. All TWAIN-compatible scanners on your computer can be acquired with one click, as can all your printers. Scan/Print is just one simple operation.
Web site
Download [1.41 MB]
Microsoft Game: Rise of Nations
Rise of Nations will be hitting store shelves any day now. Why not take advantage of this time by downloading the newly released trial version today so you can hit the battlefield running. The trial features four of the 18 nations included in the complete retail game.
Requires 16 MB 3D Video card, 128 MB RAM & 500 MHz Processor.
Web site
Download Trial [194 MB]
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17 May 2003, Vol 6 No. 17
